Thoughts on Nashbar Touring bike?

[ctsailor]

I'm looking for a touring bike for an 850 mile ride next summer and am considering a Trek 520, Surly LHT, Salsa Marrakesh, or REI Co-Op ADV 1.1.  Today I found the Nashbar http://www.nashbar.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10053_10052_602988_-1___204875 Touring bike on sale for $600!  The specs. CroMo frame and fork, etc. and drivetrain, other hardware is essentially similar to the Trek 520 for an amazing price!

Any thoughts or experience with the Nashbar Touring Bike will be appreciated!


Thanks!

[dkoloko]

Reviews say it is a Fuji that is branded Nashbar. I had a Fuji touring bike; cheap enough, but I prefer the Trek 520 I have now. One review says weighs 30 lb; that's high, maybe inaccurate. Mainstream touring bikes weigh about 24 lb, minus racks, etc. On my Fuji, rims wouldn't take tires over 32mm .

[RussSeaton]

I have a Nashbar cyclocross bike.  Probably somewhat similar to the touring bike.  Steel frame.  105 shifters and derailleurs.  10 speed.  FSA crank.  Some kind of wheels.  I have 35mm tires on the bike.  Nashbar stem, bars, saddle, post I assume.  Fine bike.  100% reliable.  Rides fine.  Heavy and slow with the big wide tires.  Suspect the touring bike should be just as fine.  My touring bike, an aluminum Redline touring frame and fork with various parts, weighs 30 pounds with racks(f+r), fenders(f+r), 2 cages, computer, taillight, bell/compass, Brooks B17 saddle, etc.  That is what loaded touring bikes weigh.  30 pounds.  Ready to ride.  The Nashbar and Bikes Direct touring bikes are basically unlabeled Surly Trucker, Trek 520, REI Randonnee, and other name brand bikes.  Exact same components more or less.  Same steel frame, fork too.  The other bikes cost twice as much because they have a name/label on the frame.  Otherwise same bike.  I guess you maybe get a "local" bike shop with the name brand bikes.  If that means anything or is worth anything.  Not to me.

[DaveB]

I can't speak to this particular bike except to say it's specifications are decent for the price.  My past experience with Nashbar's house-branded products has always been good.  They are reliable and very good for the cost.  Not cutting edge but good.

[ctsailor]

Thanks for your thoughts and feedback - appreciated!  I can't beat the price, and free shipping!

[RussSeaton]

I can't beat the price, and free shipping!

No you can't.  Its a bargain.  Especially if you can also use one of the constant 25% off coupon codes.  Not sure about the free shipping though.  Ordinarily the free shipping does not apply to bikes.  You will end up with a bike with some name brand parts in the important areas, and good, functional parts everywhere else.  For not a whole lot of money.  ASSUMING you are a competent bike mechanic and can do all of your own bike mechanic work, you should easily be able to tune the shifting, adjust the headset and hub bearings.  And then it will be perfectly reliable.  No worse, or better, than 99% of all the other loaded touring bikes being sold today.  Its more or less the exact same bike, parts wise, as everything else being sold today.

[andycbush]

Hi,

I'm looking at this bike as well.  I was wondering if you bought it? If you did, do you like it? Was size did you get and how did it fit you?

thanks

[RussSeaton]

Was size did you get and how did it fit you?

Why, how on earth is this relevant?  Are you the EXACT same size as the other person?  Do you have the EXACT same torso, leg, arm, dimensions as the other person?  Do you ride in the EXACT same position as the other person?  Same back angle, same saddle height, same stretched out or scrunched up position?  What size bike someone else rides and how it fits them is pretty close to 100% irrelevant.  WHY didn't you ask him what shoe size he wears?  WHY didn't you ask him what width handlebars he uses?  WHY didn't you ask him how wide his saddle is?  WHY didn't you ask him what size helmet he uses?  All of those questions are exactly as relevant as what bike size he uses.

[hikerjer]

Might be time to switch to decaf.

[RussSeaton]

Might be time to switch to decaf.

Never drank coffee in my life, my boy.  I merely gave a response to a question that doesn't even rise high enough to be considered foolish.

[andycbush]

 I would love to meet you in person Russ. Care to share your location? I'm in Denver.

[jsieber]

I'd like to ask that people remain friendly and helpful on this forum. We are here to motivate all to travel by bicycle. I think Andy's question does have merit, it is a way to start a discussion about bicycle fit and how a specific model fits compared to similar sizes by other manufacturers. If you don't like a participant's questions you don't have to answer.